Gen 1: Transmission drain/fill is 2.1 qts, or up to 3.2 qts, depending??

Editing the title here. Lots of confusion and different reported experiences. Some manuals/service guides (2000-2002, possibly to 2004), state 2.1 qts. In this thread, someone posted a 2005-2006 manual that states up to 3.2 qts. Users herein report ~4 qts. Keep reading.

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So, I've read all over the internet including probably here that a Gen 1 spill and fill aka drain and refill is 4 qts. Some people might just say "Tundra" without specifying which generation. This is bad information and could lead to a over-fill situation.

For anyone not sure, this is easier than changing your motor oil and filter, but you must know the correct capacities, how to check the dip stick, and the correct amount to expect to drain.

I did a drain and fill this weekend, I checked and rechecked the dipstick first and it was at a correct level. But it was puzzling because I only got out about a little over 2 qts. Thinking 4 qts (based on bad internet information) was supposed to come out, this really concerned and confused me. I looked at the owners manual. It clearly says 2.1 qts for drain and fill.

So please, always look at the owners manual and confirm that the Gen 1 is a 2.1qt drain and fill. Not 4 qts.

 

Mine took a little over three. But I dropped the pan and replaced the filter as well.

 

Jim, this is really odd. We've always thought the manual was wrong and I have no idea why you only got out 2.1 quarts. Everyone else that's done it has reported draining around 4 quarts. I've done it 3-4 times now and always get out around 4 quarts. What year is your Tundra? My comments are specific to the 4 speed(00-04).

 

Did we check our Transmission HOT and running to see levels between the HOT Hashes?

 

My question as well. I've always drained about 4 and put that much back in. Then verified the correct amount on the dipstick.

 

I serviced a 2000 4.7L, with no signs of transmission problems. Parked on the side of a slight right sloping crowned road. Fluid was warm, but not driven 30 minutes. I ran it thru all gears at idle for probably 5 minutes. This might be the issue. But then again, the manual says 2.1 qts. Not 4. This is what I don't understand.

The drained fluid looked and felt new. The truck has 155k miles and no records of any transmission service so having just gotten it 500 miles ago, I dove in.

When I drained just over 2 qts, I thought perhaps the slope left some in the pan. Next time I'll park so it's level side-to-side, but elevate the front 10 degrees.

Drove it, checked it, and the fill is correct. Drove extremely well afterwards. I'll be repeating this process very soon but just really want to figure out what the real deal is. I also have a 2002 4.7L to service, so really want to get this sorted out.

This is, and now continues to be, very puzzling that others report TWICE what the manual states for a drain and refill. I've read so many comments, and looked and re-looked at the manual thinking I'm not reading it right. I just don't understand.

 

The correct amount should be 4 quarts and it should be stated in the FSM, not the owners guide. I found out about this the hard way back in 2003. Luckily no permanent horrible damage, just a sticking solenoid.

 

Before the change, no.

After the change, yes. Will drive it again and re-check.

 

Next question. How are you checking it? Level ground, hot, with the engine running, and in Park?

 

Warm engine at operating temp, idle, run thru all gears up and down the column, let each gear work for a few moments, put in park, at idle, check and recheck dipstick of course wiping it off each time. RE-check multiple times until I get a consistent reading.

 

Yeah. The Dip Stick is very sensitive to Angles of Dangles. The right slope will give you a false reading as the Stick is on that side. Needs flat side to side. Front to back isn’t as sensitive but try to get it as level as possible. Could be 2.1 is perfect for your truck OR exactly the amount someone put in last time which is why you drained that and the slope is telling you ok. Truck drives good so thats good.

My amounts vary from 3.5-4.25 quarts drained. Usually I start at 3.5 fill and drive her and add the little extra as needed after dialing in the Stick Level Mojo with the Engine HOT and running.

 

I had a Solenoid Replaced shortly after a Drain and Fill way back around 2003-04. Service was done a few days prior and all the sudden the engine would shift hard between 2nd/3rd (iirc). Immediately called Stealer and drove it there. No damage as yours. No charge either. I think they kept it off the Service Logs as well because I remember this incident and emptylord sent me the deep search records which do not show.

Never found out why the problem happened but realize now it may be due to low fluid and the Techs following FSM orders.

@empty_lord can confirm 4 quarts drain and fill as he does them regularly at the Stealer?

 

I measured about 3.1 quarts drained when I did mine (2wd, 05 5speed). I used an alignment rack (level surface) with trans at full operating temp.

Matches the owners manual for the 05-06.

 

Are you able to link to or cite this FSM?

I'm enclosing pictures of my 2002 Tundra service manual, and the owners manual sections. They are consistent at 2.1 qt drain and refill for the V8 engine.

 

So, did Toyota change the design/pan size in 05-06, or did they correct the measurements in that time frame? I see it reads "up to" 3.2 qts.

{For reference, the oil pan on my 2002 Ford Crown Vic is 5 qts but my 2005 Mercury Grand Marq is 6 qts, same 4.6L sized motor but minor changes in design and a larger oil pan.}

 

Usually 4-5 quarts come out. Best to have 6 on hand

 

@Professional Hand Model
BTW, your recommendation for the Valvoline blue bottle ATF was excellent. Just replacing 2 fresh quarts and I could feel a noticeable difference in shifting and responsiveness, even though that reflects ~15% of the fluid. It wasn't bad before but it was even better after the spill and fill. Thank you!

 

I guess I'm at a loss. It turns out this was technical info I got in an email directly from Toyota years back because I complained about the owner's manual being incorrect.

I"ve since lost that email since my account only goes back until 2005 before it deletes everything before that period.

I will say if your truck is level and you drain more than 2.1 quarts cold, it only makes sense to at least replace it with the same amount you measured coming out; for me that was a little over 3 quarts originally.

Been running with 4 quart changes ever since and most people concur.

 

Different transmission (& pan ). Yours is the 4 speed A430 and mine is a 5 speed A750.

 

Yeah. I even called Corporate Toyota last year and double checked to see if they corrected the 2.1 quart Spec (A340f). Got put on hold by a girl that doesn’t know anything so she could talk with someone else. Her response was they stand behind the 2.1 quart refill for a draining.

Bottom line: Once you finally get the Level Proper and then when doing your next Drain and Fill those amounts should be equal and a good measurement for refill. Always check the Trans Fluid in HOT and running engine thats been shifted through all gears or driven a bit. The fluid should be right at the top of the HOT Line which is a small window +/- a few ounces from experience.

***Another nuance is when Ambient Temps are Summer Hot in 90°-100° the fluid is in expanded condition and will read higher. Opposite in Cold Climate so do not overfill to top as then in Summer it expands greatly. Factor in the Mojo.

 

How many quarts did you add? Where does the fluid level read on the dipstick.

The fact that you only drained 2 quarts from your transmission is an invalid date point, because you said you didn't check the level on the dipstick before you drained the pan. It's possible that your fluid level was about 2 quarts low to begin with... you'll never know. It's a known unknown. You can't go back and check it, so just forget about it. What you can do is follow the TSM instructions for setting the proper level in the transmission now.
BTW, bringing the engine to operating temperature is not sufficient. Per the TSM (see below) the temperature of the transmission fluid needs to be 158 – 176°F.
However, when I did my tranmission fluid, I drove around for about 20 mins before re-checking the fluid level. The fluid never got warmer than luke warm, so I never got an accurate "hot" measurement. So I let it sit overnight, checked it cold, and called it good.


Instructions from Toyota TSM:

10.AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL (a)Park the vehicle on a level surface. (b)With the engine idling and the parking brake applied, shift the selector into all positions from the P to

L, and then shift into the P position. (c)Pull out the dipstick and wipe off the fluid with a clean rag. Re–insert the dipstick and check that the

fluid level is in the HOT range. (d)Do this check with the fluid at normal driving temperature (70 – 80°C, 158 – 176°F).

 

Thanks for the info. I don't know if it wasn't clear but I did idle the vehicle and run thru all the gears beforehand to get the fluid hot. I figured when the truck was at operating temp so would the transmission. Perhaps that is incorrect.

I drained a bit over 2 qts, and replaced the same amount. Then drove it and re-checked it and it is in the safe hot level on the dipstick.

I've concluded that my angle of parking/draining possibly left anywhere from 1/2 to 2 qts in the pan, since everyone else seems to get something like 3-4. I'm still very puzzled why several service manuals state it's 2.1 qts if others are getting 3-4 out. I'm going to drive, and recheck, and redo this service again soon but this time at a correct angle and carefully measure what I get out.

 

With the truck sitting and idling, the transmission will never reach 158 – 176°F. I don't know how Toyota expects a dealer tech to get the transmission fluid up to that temperature. As I said, I drove my truck around for 20 minutes and the fluid never even got warm. 158 – 176°F won't scorch your hand, but would think it would make the dipstick feel uncomfortable to hold after several seconds.

@empty_lord how do you guys get the trans up to temp to properly check the hot level?

 

Dipstick cars? Typically they’re already here at the temp required. If it sits just drive them around a 10 minute circuit and come back in the shop and check

 

You guys would know. Admittedly, my method of feeling the dipstick is pretty crude. Maybe using the IR thermometer on the pan would be better, or using the Torque app.

Thanks!

 

My truck Trans Fluid barely gets to 145° in Winter even with the By-Pass Warmer Valve. Prior to install, it would reach 130° with good amount of driving. My truck has the Tow Package Cooler.

Winter Drain and Fill should be done at the low side on the Dip Stick HOT HASHES and rechecked in Hotter Weather. The Fluid really expands in Hot Temps. The stick has a small window of proper fill.

 

I had a 2004 for 17 years and 220,000 miles. Did an atf drain and fill every 25,000 miles. Every time, around 3.5 quarts came out and I put that much back in.

When I had the truck warm and level, the dipstick would read at the full line with the truck running (per the procedure in the manual). I always thought the manual was wrong or misprinted with 2.1 quarts.

 

Need to drive it a bit harder to get it up to temp. Keep it out of O/D and give it a bit more skinny pedal so the T/C doesn't lock up (drops temps when it does).

 

The dipstick has 2 notches for the "cold" area, then above that 2 notches for the "hot" area.

Is there any reference point that tells how many qts these represent? For instance if I'm at the top of the highest or 2nd "cold" hash with a warm running vehicle, how may qts. or partial qts. might get me into the "hot" region where it should be?

 

If I understand you correctly, its a matter of a few ounces between the Upper Hashes.

Like I mentioned above that upper hash is a small window. I’ve done about 5 drain and fills in the last two years and the best method to get the fluid level correct is to slightly underfill 3.5quarts and drive the truck to HOT. Park and leave it running and then add a few ounces and shift through and recheck/repeat until proper.

Once the level is proper and on your next drain/refill confirm the level BEFORE draining. You can do this the day before when driving. Let it sit over night and then drain it cold and put the exact amount back in. Should be perfect, but always confirm after a drive.